Most Frequently Asked Questions

 
  1. Where can I find Insect Lore Butterfly Kit Instructions? Contact us and we'll email a pdf of the instructions for you: sales@insectlore.co.uk
  2. Do my caterpillars have enough air? Yes. Look carefully and you will see there are tiny holes punched into the lid of the cup.
  3. Can I remove the lid of the cup and touch my caterpillars? No. Removing the lid could introduce bacteria and mold into the caterpillar environment. Oils and salts from your hands could harm your caterpillars. Do not open the cup until your chrysalides have formed and it is time to move them to your butterfly habitat.
  4. Why are my caterpillars turning red? If your caterpillars turn red and begin to disintegrate, they have been infected with the bacteria, Seratia Marcescens. This bacterium occurs if condensation has been allowed to form in the cup. Please be sure to always keep your Cup of Caterpillars away from windows and out of direct sunlight. Sunlight will cause the inside of the cup to heat up and form condensation.
  5. Why are my caterpillars spinning silky webbing? It is a good sign if you see webbing in your cup of caterpillars. The webbing protects the caterpillars from many dangers. Caterpillars use the webbing to stick to their host plants, as the wind can easily blow them off the leaves. Caterpillars also use the silk to pull leaves around themselves to hide from predators that might like to eat them!
  6. What are the little brown balls appearing in my cup of caterpillars? Those little balls are “frass”, or caterpillar waste. It means your caterpillars are eating and growing!
  7. How many times will my caterpillars shed their exoskeletons? Five times! Your caterpillars will shed their exoskeletons four times while they are eating and growing. They shed once more after they have attached themselves to the lid of the cup, just before they pupate.
  8. My caterpillars have attached themselves to the paper under the lid of the cup. How long should I wait before moving them to their butterfly habitat? When your caterpillars crawl to the top of the cup, they are ready to pupate (become chrysalides). Do not disturb the chrysalides for 3 days.
  9. What is a “chrysalis”? A chrysalis is a pupa. When a caterpillar changes into a chrysalis, it is “pupating”. Chrysalides are always bare. A cocoon does not surround them.
  10. What do I do once my chrysalides have formed? Remove the lid of the cup. Carefully take out the paper disk with your chrysalides attached. Pin or tape the paper disk with your chrysalides to the lower inside wall of the habitat. Your chrysalides should hang down in a natural position.
  11. Why are the caterpillars eating the paper disk? Sometimes your caterpillars will instinctively chew through the paper at the top of the cup. If your caterpillars have not formed chrysalides yet, gently remove the lid. Remove the chewed paper disk. Replace it with a coffee filter or piece of paper towel. Replace the lid and cut off the excess paper.
    If a couple of caterpillars have formed into chrysalides, open the lid of the cup. Remove the paper with the chrysalides attached. Pin the paper disk to the wall of your habitat. Replace the paper disk with a coffee filter or paper towel for your remaining caterpillars.
  12. How long is the butterfly life cycle? Approximately 3 weeks. Females lay eggs 5 to 7 days after emerging from the chrysalis. The eggs hatch after three days. Caterpillars emerge from the eggs and eat for 10 to 12 days before forming chrysalides. Adult butterflies emerge from the chrysalides in 7 to 10 days.
  13. What is the black thing hanging on the bottom of the chrysalis? It is the remains of the last exoskeleton shed by your caterpillar before pupating, or changing into a chrysalis.
  14. A chrysalis fell to the bottom of the culture cup. What should I do? Gently scoop your chrysalis out of the cup with a spoon. Be sure to remove all of the silk and frass surrounding the chrysalis with a Q-tip. Then lay the chrysalis on a piece of paper towel on the floor of your Butterfly Garden Habitat. The butterfly will emerge there safely.
  15. Why are my chrysalides shaking? This is a natural instinct to ward off predators. If a chrysalis feels threatened, it will begin to wiggle and shake.
  16. What happens inside the chrysalis? The caterpillar parts are liquefying and re-arranging to become the cells, tissues and organs of the butterfly. In a few days, you will be able to see the outline of the wings of the butterfly beneath the pupal shell!
  17. What is the red liquid I see as my butterflies emerge? Your butterflies will expel a red liquid called meconium. This is a completely natural occurence. Meconium is the leftover part of the caterpillar that was not needed to make the butterfly. This is stored in the intestine of the butterfly and expelled after the butterfly emerges.
  18. Why should I place a paper towel under my butterfly habitat before the butterflies emerge? Tiny drops of meconium may fall to the floor of the habitat after your butterflies hatch out of the chrysalides. Place a paper or cloth towel under the habitat to ensure that the meconium will not stain your furniture.
  19. What is an “imago”? “Imago” is another word for “adult”.
  20. How can I tell whether a butterfly is male or female? Because of their egg mass, females have a larger, more rounded abdomen than males. Look at your butterflies from above. The male butterfly’s abdomen has straight sides, while the female’s abdomen is curved.
  21. What if my butterflies lay eggs that hatch into caterpillars? Caterpillars love to eat thistle, hollyhock, fiddleneck, and malva. Be sure the leaves are pesticide-free and place them near your caterpillars in your habitat. It’s best to release your butterflies before egg laying begins. Caring for all the caterpillars that hatch from the eggs would be a very big job!
  22. When should I release my butterflies? Release your butterflies within a week after they have emerged from their chrysalides.
  23. Where can I observe an instructional video of my Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden? Please visit http://www.youtube.com/user/InsectLoreProducts
  24. How long will my butterflies live? Adult butterflies typically live for 2 to 4 weeks during the warm parts of the year. During that time they will feed, mate, lay eggs, and begin the amazing butterfly life cycle, or metamorphosis, all over again!
  25. What is the ideal outdoor temperature for my butterflies? Release your butterflies when daytime temperatures are at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Butterflies need this warmth to fly, feed, mate and pollinate.
  26. Are Painted Lady Butterflies native to my state? Painted Lady Butterflies are found almost everywhere! They are native to Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa and even Iceland!
  27. Where can I find a Painted Lady Butterfly? Look for Painted Lady Butterflies in sunny meadows, parks, marshes and yards.
  28. How do I clean my butterfly habitat? Fill a small tub or sink with warm water and add a drop of mild dishwashing detergent. Swish the habitat in the soapy water. Rinse. Hang the habitat to dry and it will be ready for more caterpillar friends!
  29. Can I reuse my butterfly habitat? Yes! Click here to order an Insect Lore Cup of Caterpillars.
  30. My caterpillars seem to be running out of food. What should I do? Your caterpillars are shipped with more than enough food to develop into healthy adults. If the food appears to be running low, it is a sign that your caterpillars will be close to pupating.
  31. All of my caterpillars have pupated except for one. Should I wait to transfer them into my butterfly habitat? Your caterpillars are roughly the same age. This last caterpillar just might need a little more time to ingest enough nutrients to make the transformation. Just give him a little more time.
  32. Why is a chrysalis forming on the side or bottom of the cup, and what should I do? Sometimes chrysalides form on the side or bottom of the cup. This tends to happen when a caterpillar knocks down other caterpillars on its way to the top of the cup. If the fallen caterpillars don’t have time to climb to the top again they will form into chrysalides where they have fallen. If this happens, wait for the chrysalides to fully form. After 3 days, gently scoop them up with a plastic spoon, remove all of the silk and frass with a Q-tip, and lay them on a paper towel at the bottom of your habitat.
  33. Can I help my butterfly escape the chrysalis? No. It is best to let nature take its course. Sometimes a butterfly may experience difficulties emerging from the chrysalis. The most frequent cause of these difficulties is the strands of silk that have adhered to the surface of the chrysalis. These strands may coil around the chrysalis and make it very difficult (or impossible) for the butterfly to successfully emerge. To ensure that this does not happen, you MUST remove all of the silk and frass from the chrysalides before moving them to your butterfly habitat.
  34. What are the most important steps I can take to ensure the survival of my caterpillars? Try to have your caterpillars sent to an indoor mailbox, where temperatures are controlled, rather than to an outdoor mailbox, where temperatures can be extreme.
    Do not leave your Cup of Caterpillars unattended in a mailbox.
    Be aware if your package’s destination has been sprayed for insects.
    Do not expose your caterpillars to dramatic changes in temperature.
    If temperatures vary greatly from daytime to nighttime, place a towel over the Cup of Caterpillars in the evening.
    Do not place your Cup of Caterpillars in a window or in direct sunlight.
    Be sure to remove all silk and frass from the chrysalides before transferring them to the butterfly habitat. If this step is ignored, the butterfly may become entangled in the silk upon emergence, resulting in deformed wings and death.
  35. Why does my butterfly have four legs instead of six? It may look like your butterfly only has four legs, but it really has six! The last set of your butterfly’s legs is tucked up high on the thorax and is very easily overlooked.
  36. What do my butterflies eat? Butterflies love to feed on the nectar of flowers. They also love to feed on slices of oranges and watermelon. And, of course, your butterflies will feed on the sugar water you will place in their habitat!
  37. Why aren't my butterflies flying in their habitat? Your butterflies might not immediately fly around in their habitat. They will show off their flying abilities when it is time to release them!
  38. My butterflies have laid eggs. What should I do? Insect Lore recommends that you release your butterflies well before they start to lay eggs (within a week after emergence). If your butterflies do lay eggs, place the eggs outdoors near any plant life. Caterpillars will hatch from the eggs and it would be a big job to take care of that many caterpillars!
  39. Do you offer different species of butterflies? No, we only provide the Painted Lady Butterfly at this time.
  40. Why do my butterflies look like moths? The undersides of your Painted Lady Butterfly wings are “marble-colored”, which provides the butterflies with a natural camouflage from predators. When the butterflies open their wings they exhibit the gorgeous orange, brown and black colors the Painted Lady is known for. These bright colors are also a warning to predators.
  41. Why is it important to release my butterflies when the temperature exceeds 55 degrees Fahrenheit? Like all insects, butterflies are cold-blooded. On cooler days, butterflies must warm their flight muscles in a sunny spot before they can fly. If a butterfly has to sit still for long, it may be vulnerable to a predator.
  42. Is it environmentally safe to release my butterflies? The Painted Lady Butterfly is native to almost every continent except Antarctica and South America. It can be released safely anywhere in the United States.
  43. Can I reuse the food for newly hatched caterpillars? The new caterpillars might find this food objectionable as it has been contaminated by the prior residents’ frass and nitrogenous waste (urine). Insect Lore does not recommend that you reuse this food once the original caterpillars have pupated.
  44. What is the scientific name of the Painted Lady Butterfly? The scientific name of the Painted lady Butterfly is Vanessa Cardui.
  45. Can I handle my cup of caterpillars? Yes! You may handle your cup, but always be very gentle. Do not disturb the cup at all during the two days your caterpillars are pupating (changing into chrysalides). And never shake your cup of caterpillars!
  46. Will the butterflies lay eggs? If you have hatched both male and female butterflies, chances are they will mate and lay eggs if you do not release them within the recommended time. Insect Lore recommends that you release your butterflies within a week after emergence. Your butterflies would likely lay too many eggs for you to take care of.
  47. How does my butterfly eat? The butterfly feeds upon nectar with its elongated proboscis. The proboscis acts as a tube through which the butterfly sips its food. The proboscis remains curled up until it is time to eat.
  48. Why are my butterfly’s wings shaking? All insects are coldblooded, unlike birds and mammals that maintain a constant high temperature. A butterfly vibrates its wings to increase the metabolic rate within its thoracic (wing) muscles. This activity warms the wing muscles, enabling the butterfly to fly away at a moment’s notice!
  49. How long does it take for a butterfly’s wings to harden after emergence? It takes about an hour for the butterfly’s wings to fully form and harden.
  50. Why does my butterfly have deformed wings? When you transfer your chrysalides from the cup to the habitat, it is of utmost importance that you gently remove any silk or frass that may surround the chrysalides. If the silk and frass is not removed at this time, your butterfly may actually become entangled in the silk when it emerges from the chrysalis. This entanglement may result in deformed wings.
  51. What happens to butterflies during the winter? Some butterflies, like Monarchs and Painted Ladies, migrate to warmer climates. Those that do not migrate often find niches or microclimates in which to shelter during the intense cold. One winter, our entomologist turned over a rock and found a butterfly beneath it. The butterfly was so cold it could hardly move! But the underside of the rock was an excellent place for the butterfly to survive. On sunny winter days, the rock was warmed by the sun and maintained its warmth even during the cold evenings. The ground beneath the rock was also warmer than the ambient air temperatures. Add to this the fact that insect bodies also contain glycols (which lower their freezing temperature) and you have a great chance of winter survival!
  52. Is a butterfly an insect? Yes! Like all insects, a butterfly has three body parts: head, thorax and abdomen, three pairs of jointed legs, one pair of antennae and an exoskeleton.
  53. How do I make butterfly nectar? To make nectar to feed to your butterflies, thoroughly mix 3 teaspoons of sugar with 1 cup of water.
  54. Why is the Painted Lady Butterfly also known as the "Thistle Butterfly"? The Painted Lady Butterfly is nicknamed the "Thistle Butterfly" because it is partial to the nectar of thistles.
  55. What is a group of butterflies called? A group of butterflies is also called a "swarm," "rabble," "kaleidoscope," or "flutter of butterflies."
  56. What does the word “larva” mean? “Larva” is another word for “caterpillar”!
  57. Should I provide food for my caterpillars? No. Your caterpillars arrive with all the food they need to grow into healthy butterflies. Once your butterflies have emerged from the chrysalis stage, feed them with fruit, nectar (sugar water), or nectar bearing flowers.
  58. Should I provide water for my caterpillars? No. Your caterpillars have all the moisture they need. Remember to keep your cup of caterpillars away from direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause the inside of the cup to heat up and form condensation. This condensation can cause your caterpillars to sicken and die.
  59. Why are my caterpillars inactive? Like you, caterpillars need to rest and digest their food. But just wait! Your caterpillars will become more and more active as they eat the food at the bottom of the cup. Eating and growing is what they do best!
  1. Where can I find Insect Lore Live Ladybug Land® Instructions? Click here for Insect Lore Live Ladybug Land Instructions.
  2. When should I release my ladybugs outdoors? Release your ladybugs within one week of emerging from their pupal stage. If you want to encourage them to remain in your garden, the best time to release them is in the evening after sundown or in the morning before sunup. If it is winter, keep your ladybugs in their habitat during their entire life span.
  3. What is the ideal outdoor temperature for my ladybugs? Release your ladybugs when temperatures are at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. What do ladybugs do during the winter months? During the winter, ladybugs look for a warm place to hibernate.
  5. How do I release my ladybugs? Take your Ladybug Land outdoors, remove the dome and let your ladybugs fly away! Remember, ladybugs are very helpful members of our environment!
  6. Are ladybugs beneficial insects? Yes! Gardeners love ladybugs because they eat plant pests like aphids, white flies, mites, and scale insects.
  7. How many aphids can a ladybug eat? A ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.
  8. Why are ladybugs predators? Ladybugs are predators because they eat other insects.
  9. How many eggs can a ladybug lay in it's lifetime? One ladybug can lay 50 eggs in one day. She can lay up to 1,000 eggs during her lifetime!
  10. Why does a ladybug have spots? Entomologists (scientists who study insects) believe that the ladybug’s red color and black spots protect her by warning predators that she has a bitter taste.
  11. What else can a ladybug do to protect itself from predators? A ladybug will also play dead in an effort to protect itself.
  12. How long does it take for my ladybug larvae to arrive? Expect 5 to 7 days for delivery.
  13. Do ladybugs taste bad? Yes! Ladybugs excrete a substance that tastes terrible to birds and other predators. The taste is so bad it can even make a bird sick!
  14. What are the spots I see on the inside of my ladybug land? The spots are waste, or droppings, produced by the feeding ladybugs.
  15. What kinds of animals eat ladybugs? Ladybugs have to watch out for birds like crows, martins and swallows. Dragonflies, ants, parasitic wasps, tree frogs, and even fungi try to eat ladybugs too!
  16. Are there different kinds of ladybugs? Yes! There are about 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs worldwide.
  17. Do ladybugs come in different colors? Yes! Ladybugs can be red, pink, yellow, orange, brown, and even black!
  18. How can I tell whether a ladybug is male or female? It’s almost impossible to tell them apart, but females are usually bigger than males.
  19. How fast can a ladybug fly? A ladybug beats its wings 85 times per second, and can fly 15 miles an hour!
  20. What is the ladybug’s scientific name? The ladybug’s scientific name is “Coccinellidae”, which means “Little Sphere"!
  21. Can I reuse my Live Ladybug Land®? Yes! Click here to order a Ladybug Larvae Refill for your Live Ladybug Land®.
  22. I only received 10 ladybug larvae. Can I get a replacement? Insect Lore ships 15 to 20 ladybug larvae in each container. Ladybug larvae are cannibalistic by nature and may eat their own kind. We have placed paper strips in the container to reduce the chances of confrontation. Insect Lore guarantees at least five ladybug larvae will develop into adult ladybugs.
  23. How long should I observe the ladybug life cycle in my ladybug land? Approximately three weeks. The first week is the larval stage. The second week is the pupal stage. At the end of the second week, your adult ladybugs will emerge from the pupae. Insect Lore recommends that you release your adult ladybugs after one week of feeding and observation.
  24. Should I provide food for my ladybug larvae? No. Your ladybug larvae come with all the food they need to develop into adult ladybugs. Once your ladybugs have emerged from their pupae, you must feed them.
  25. Should I provide water for my ladybug larvae? Yes! You must provide water throughout the ladybug life cycle. Remove the magnification cap from the Ladybug Land. Using the pipette, place a couple of drops of water onto the sponge in the crater every other day. Keep the sponge moist at all times, but don’t over water! Ladybugs can drown in standing water. If you see condensation on the sides of the Ladybug Land, do not add any more water until the condensation disappears
  26. How do I feed my ladybugs? Ladybugs love raisins! Soak 1 or 2 raisins in water. Blot them dry on a paper towel. Cut the raisins in half and drop them into your ladybug habitat. Replace the raisins as needed. If you have any aphids on leaves in your garden, you may place the leaves in your ladybug habitat. Ladybugs love to eat these harmful pests!
  27. Can the ladybugs breathe in my ladybug land? Yes! Your ladybugs have all the air they need to breathe, and more!
  28. How long do ladybugs live? Ladybugs can live outdoors for up to one year!
  29. How long will my ladybugs live in my ladybug land? If you keep them in the habitat, your ladybugs will live for two to three weeks.
  1. Where can I find Insect Lore Live Praying Mantis Instructions? Click here for Insect Lore Live Praying Mantis Instructions.
  2. Are praying mantises predators? Yes! Praying mantises will eat almost any live bug small enough to capture! However, praying mantises do not like to eat our beneficial ladybug friends because ladybugs have such a bitter taste!
  3. Should I provide food for my baby mantis? Yes! Praying mantises have voracious appetites and will eat almost any insect.
  4. What should I feed my praying mantis? Feed your nymphs (baby mantises) small insects like aphids or flies.
  5. How often should I feed my praying mantis? Feed your praying mantis every 2 to 3 days.
  6. Should I provide water for my praying mantis? No, your praying mantis will get all the moisture it needs from the insects it feeds on.
  7. How long will a praying mantis live? Praying mantises live outdoors for 3 to 6 months.
  8. When should I release my praying mantis? Feed and observe the growth of your praying mantis, but keep in mind that they live only for 3 to 6 months. Insect Lore recommends that you release your praying mantis when it develops wings.
  9. Do praying mantises fly? Praying mantises are very poor at flying and walk very slowly. You will probably see your praying mantis friends in your garden for weeks after your release!
  10. How can I tell whether a praying mantis is male or female? The female praying mantis is larger in size and usually eats the male after mating.
  11. When does the female praying mantis lay her eggs? The female lays her eggs in the fall and attaches them to leaves and twigs.
  12. Are praying mantis egg cases available year-round? No. Praying Mantises only lay egg cases in the spring. These are stored at low temperature by our suppliers to fulfill the praying mantises’ hibernation cycle. Egg cases are available from January through April.
  13. Can I reuse my Pop-Up Port-a-Bug? Yes! Click here to order a Live Praying Mantis Egg Case for your Pop Up Port-A-Bug.
  14. What is an "ootheca"? An "ootheca" is a hardened egg case.
  15. How many times does a praying mantis shed its skin? A praying mantis will shed its skin (or exoskeleton) 6 times. Your praying mantis will refuse to eat when it is preparing to molt.
  16. What do nymphs or baby mantises eat? Nymphs (baby mantises) like to eat small insects like aphids or small flies.
  17. What do larger praying mantises eat? Larger praying mantises will eat caterpillars, moths, flies, crickets, bees, wasps, butterflies, grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, and even small frogs.
  18. What are the natural enemies of the praying mantis? Birds, frogs, spiders, bats, ants and lizards will eat small nymphs. Larger birds will eat fully grown mantises and females will often eat males after mating.
  19. How long will it take for my praying mantises to hatch? Be patient! Your young mantises will hatch in 3 to 6 weeks.
  20. What is a “nymph”? A “nymph” is another name for “young mantis".
  21. How many mantises are in the egg case? About 75 to 200 tiny mantises will hatch from the egg case.
  22. What should I do when the egg case hatches? When the egg hatches, take the Pop-Up Port-a-Bug outdoors and release all but one or two of your young mantises for observation. The Pop Up Port-A-Bug is a good home to raise a single adult praying mantis.
  23. The young mantises seem smaller than the mesh net that encloses them. Can they escape? No, the mantises’ long legs prevent them from escaping from the weave of the mesh net.
  24. How do I release my young mantises? Take your Pop-Up Port-a-Bug outside and unzip the top of the habitat. Let your mantises leave slowly. Do not shake the habitat. Your mantises will be hungry, so try to release them near plants infested with aphids or other insects.
  25. Why should I release my young mantises soon after they hatch? We recommend that you release your mantises shortly after hatching. Failing to do so causes undue stress as tiny mantids are fearful of each other, and the possibility that they themselves will become prey. Their bodies contain only a small amount of residual nutrition and this is used up quickly under these conditions. Normal behavior of newly hatched mantids is to fall from the old egg case to lie among leaves and flowers, while watching for small prey. To keep for rearing, separate them from others and rear individually.
  1. Where can I find Insect Lore Live Ant Hill® Instructions? Click here for Insect Lore Live Ant Hill Instructions.
  2. Is there an ant king? No, the few male drones live to mate with the queen and then die soon after mating.
  3. How long have ants populated the earth? Ants evolved 150 million years ago, during the Cretaceous Period. They roamed the earth alongside the dinosaurs!
  4. How many species of ants are there? There are over 10,000 species of ants worldwide.
  5. Do ants live everywhere? Ants live on every continent except for Antarctica and some uninhabited islands.
  6. What do ants eat? Ants are omnivores. They eat plants, other insects, birds, fungi, and animals.
  7. What is a group of ants called? A group of ants is called a “colony” or an “army".
  8. Are ants related to any other insects? Ants belong to the order Hymenoptera, which also includes wasps and bees.
  9. Are ants intelligent? Yes, ants are very intelligent. They have the largest insect brain relative to their size and a very complex social structure.
  10. How strong is an ant? Ants can lift 50 times their own body weight!
  11. Can some ants fly? Yes! Drones (male ants) and queens (female ants) have wings before mating allowing them to fly.
  12. What is an alate? An alate is an insect similar to an ant that has wings during its reproductive phase. Once the insect breeds, the wings fall off and the insect becomes wingless.
  13. Do ants have a skeleton? Yes! Like most insects, ants have a skeleton on the outside of their body called an "Exoskeleton".
  14. Should I release my ants? No, the ants should remain within the anthill for the entirety of their life cycle. Without a queen, they will not survive outside to form their own colony. Their life cycle within the anthill should last 2-4 weeks.
  15. Can I reuse my Live Ant Hill®? Yes! Order your Live Ant Hill Refill here.
  16. How long can a queen ant live? A queen ant can live up to 28 years! Some female ants live for approximately 10 years.
  17. How to care for my Live Ant Hill®. It is best to place your Live Ant Hill® in a quiet, secure spot where everyone can have a clear view of the habitat. You don’t want to disturb your ants while they are busy building their rooms and tunnels.
  18. Should I provide food for my ants? Yes, the ants depend on you for their food. Place a tiny piece of carrot or apple in the Live Ant Hill®. It should be about the size of a popcorn kernel. Once the food has disappeared, replace it with a fresh piece. Do not overfeed.
  19. Do my ants have enough air? Yes, the dome of the Live Ant Hill provides enough air for their tiny lungs.
  20. Can I touch my ants? No, do not open the Live Ant Hill® to touch your ants. Harvester Ants may bite, sting, or even escape.
  21. Is one of my ants a queen? No, unfertile female worker ants populate your anthill.
  22. What is the queen’s job? The queen is in charge of repopulating the ant colony. She is the mother of every ant that lives there!
  1. Can I redeem my Live Insect Voucher online? Yes! It’s actually faster and easier to redeem your voucher online! When you are prepared to receive your live insects, click on the link at the top of this page, 'Redeem Voucher'
  2. Do you ship to Canada? Unfortunately, we cannot ship live specimens to Canada. We can, however, ship “non live” products like books and games to Canada.
  3. I received a voucher in the mail, not live insects. What happened to my order? Chances are you probably meant to order the cup of caterpillars and not the voucher. You can redeem your voucher at insectlore.com and click on the link 'Redeem Voucher'.
  4. I received caterpillars instead of butterfly eggs. Can I get a replacement? Insect Lore ships live caterpillars. We do not offer live butterfly eggs.
  5. I lost my live insect instructions. Where can I find them? You can find Insect Lore’s Live Insect Instructions on our website or by clicking here.
  6. Do I have to sign for my caterpillars upon arrival? No, there is no need to sign for your package unless you have opted for overnight shipping. We strongly suggest, however, that you are prepared to open your package immediately upon receipt. Your live specimens will not survive long in a hot mailbox or warehouse.
  7. Where can I find more information on butterflies, ladybugs and other insects? Visit our Butterfly, Ladybug, Ant or Praying Mantis FAQ to find the answers to many insect questions.
    Or, you can visit our Pinterest Boards which has even more FAQs by clicking here!.
  8. Live Insect Kit: Order now or redeem later? "Shipped with live NOW" is usually the best choice. You'll save valuable time and will receive everything you need in one convenient ad exciting package!
    "With Certificate (to redeem your insects later)" is a good option only if you are not sure when you'll be ready to receive and raise your live insects. This option includes an additional cost for shipping and handling your insects later.
  9. Why should I try to have my live insects sent to an indoor address? It is best for the health of your live insects that you have the shipment sent to a building where temperatures are controlled rather than an outdoor mailbox where temperatures may be extreme.
  10. I’d like to order the Live Butterfly Garden as a gift for my friend, but don’t know whether she is ready to take care of the live insects at this time. What should I do? The "Shipped with Certificate LATER" option is best for you. The Live Butterfly Garden will include a certificate that can be redeemed for a Cup of Caterpillars LATER. Your friend can decide when she is ready to receive the Cup of Caterpillars. Please keep in mind an additional shipping and handling fee is required when your friend redeems her certificate.
  11. I'm a teacher and would like my students to experience the miracle of metamorphosis with the Butterfly Pavilion School Kit next May. What is my best option? Your best ordering option would be the Shipped with Live with a future ship date. On the product page, select "Shipped with Live NOW". When you reach checkout, choose the date you would like to have your product shipped up to one year in advance. This option is ideal for teachers with class projects.
  12. Are caterpillars available year-round? Yes, weather permitting. Please note that in order to ensure the survival of your caterpillars, delivery may be delayed during extreme temperatures.
  13. How long does shipping take? Your insects will arrive between 3 to 7 days if you choose standard shipping. If you choose expedited shipping, delivery will take 1 to 2 days.
  14. I only have one voucher. Can I get two orders of caterpillars? The voucher is valid for one cup of caterpillars. Additional caterpillars may be purchased here.
  15. I lost my voucher. What should I do? Your voucher code is also printed on the instruction portion of your voucher.
  16. Can I place an order today and have it shipped later? Yes. This option is available online and over the phone. Your postponed shipping date is referred to as an F.O. Date (Future Order Date).